By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(16)

He looked smug for all of one second until a gargoyle charged him. My claws automatically came out and I swiped the gargoyle in half a mere hairsbreadth before he would have landed on Quinn. Instead, it turned to sand.

Quinn squawked and covered his face with his arms. I sighed.

“Great defensive move, Quinn. I can’t imagine why I didn’t bring you along.” I puffed up and roared at the other gargoyles who inched closer.

Rainbowpebbles snapped his fingers and they returned to their places.

“He surprised me,” Quinn lowered his arms now that they’d backed off. “Besides, I didn’t think you could attack anything.”

“You’re legally my property. If they attack you, they attack me.” I clasped his wrist in a bruising grip, too angry to be gentle. “What in the bloody blue moons are you doing here?”

“I came to help.”

“Don’t need your help.” I ground my teeth together, shook him slightly so he’d get the point. That’s when I noticed the ring. Of course. Invisibility. Before he could retort—because he had to be the mouthiest servant I’d ever seen—I slipped the ring off his finger and pocketed it.

“Hey—”

“Well, well. Brandsome’s little pet. Almost didn’t recognize him without his finery.” Rainbowpebbles gaze swept Quinn in an insulting fashion making me want to put my fist through his teeth. “Brandsome is a clever unicorn, isn’t he?” Rainbowpebbles’ eyes practically glowed with glee. “I accept your bargain. The blue stolquoise and the human to be bet against the horn.”

“Now wait just one second—”

“Don’t tell me you plan to back out, Starfig. Not a big, strong dragon like you . . .”

That bastard was pushing all my buttons. Smoke steamed from my nostrils again.

“He’s not.” Quinn moved in front of me, like I needed protecting. “He’s in.”

“You don’t get to decide that,” I practically shouted.

“Tsk, tsk, that unicorn always was too lenient with his little human. Don’t worry, Starfig, when I win him, I’ll make sure he learns not to talk back to his betters.” He looked me up and down. “Even his only slightly betters.”

“You can’t have him.”

“Then no horn.” He took a big puff from the hookah and blew out a large smoke ring. “I have business to attend to, just show yourselves out.”

Quinn grabbed my arm. “You’re not really going to walk away, are you?”

He looked furious.

Unbelievable.

“I told you to Stay. At. My. Place. What part of ‘stay at my place’ did you not understand?”

“I told you, I want to help.”

“I don’t mean to rush you lovebirds along, but busy, busy. Coin to be made.” Rainbowpebbles smiled, almost like he was apologetic.

If it wasn’t for my oath, Rainbowpebbles would be a stain on the floor by now. Hellafuck, harpies, and hand-jobs, this ‘do no harm . . . first’ business sucked. If it wasn’t for my father . . .

“Look, I’m sorry Twig, er, Mister Starfig, I mean.” Quinn leaned into me. “What do I call you in front of others?”

“An idiot, obviously,” I grumbled. When he shook his head, I added, “Twig is fine.”

“Come on, Twig, you can do it.” He gazed up at me, his eyes so earnest. Was this guy for real? He wanted me to bet his freedom and his body on a card game? He picked the wrong guy.

I turned to leave the office. I’d have to find another way to get my hands on the horn. Quinn really screwed things up.

“I didn’t think you’d be hot shit at cards anyway,” Rainbowpebbles called after me. “Say hello to your brother for me. Great guy. So willing to do anything for . . . oh, I meant, to family, don’t you think?”

I stopped in my tracks, closed my eyes, and counted to ten so I wouldn’t do something stupid. Half-brother, I wanted to shout, but that would give the fae too much. “Fuck you, Rainbowpebbles,” I said instead.

He snickered.

“Nice to see you, Starfig. Remember, I always have a place for you.”

I didn’t need to turn around to know he pointed at the chains that were still mounted to the wall.

I forced myself put one foot in front of the other.

“Twig, please.” Quinn’s voice was pleading as he stepped in front of me pushed on my chest until I stopped. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I believe in you.”

I raised my eyebrow. “And how do you know I’m any good at cards? Rainbowpebbles could be right. I might suck. That ever occur to you? You looking forward to having your legs spread by his clientele?”

He flinched, but didn’t move out of the way. “I know you’re mad—”

“No, Quinn, you really have no idea.”

“Please.”

“He doesn’t even have it here. Maybe not at all.”

“We have to get it back. You can play in the middle of the bar. His reputation means something to him. If he wins he’ll pay up.”

“No.” That was final. I picked him up and set him aside so I could pass.

“Mr. Rainbowpebbles. I’d like to play you for the horn with me as the prize,” Quinn called.